Background

The ambitious 2030 objectives imply increased penetration of low-carbon technologies and increased pressure on existing fossil-based generation. Do we have the right market incentives for new investment, demand response and other technologies, and continued operation of recently installed capacity to ensure system adequacy during this transition?

Session 2 - Integrating new technologies while maintaining resource adequacy: United States

The Clean Power Plan, other state and federal environmental regulations, and changing market conditions are resulting in rapid changes in the North American grid. Distributed renewables, storage, and demand response are coming onto the grid, while significant conventional capacity is retiring. How well will new technologies balance conventional closures in order to maintain resource adequacy? What additional measures will be required as changes accelerate?

Session 3 - Integrating new technologies to achieve electricity sector decarbonisation: the role of renewables, demand response, transmission, and storage

To what extent can renewables be relied on to meet demand? Can increasing renewables make up for a loss of baseload capacity due to plant closures? What is the potential role and value of storage in a system with high renewable penetration? What is the best way to ensure demand response performance? Can interconnections be treated as a generation resource?

Session 4 - Will electrification of heat and transportation make up for ongoing demand decline?

To what extent will electrification be required to decarbonize other segments of the economy? Are current European and US policies helping or hindering electrification? Will electrification significantly increase demand by 2030, requiring new investments?